Australia’s leading independent law firm, Corrs Chambers Wesgarth, is advising the Royal Government of Cambodia in its conciliation with the Kingdom of Thailand.
The process seeks to resolve the countries’ longstanding maritime boundary dispute in the Gulf of Thailand. At stake is access to resources estimated to be worth up to USD 300 billion.
The conciliation mechanism under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea has only been used once before — by Timor-Leste, to successfully resolve a decades-long maritime boundary dispute with Australia.
The first meeting of the Conciliation Commission took place in Singapore from 14 to 16 September 2026. The five-member Commission is chaired by Ms Katrina Cooper (Australia), with the other members being Ambassador Peter Taksøe-Jensen (Denmark), Professor Jean-Marc Thouvenin (France), Judge Albert Hoffmann (South Africa) and Judge Rüdiger Wolfrum (Germany).
Cambodia's delegation was led by His Excellency Mr Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. The Royal Government of Cambodia’s counsel team is led by Corrs CEO Gavin MacLaren, supported by Ben Juratowitch KC, Professor Mathias Forteau, Callista Harris and Melina Antoniadis. The Corrs team comprises Partner Nastasja Suhadolnik, Senior Associates Harriet Codd and Eleanor Clifford, and Associate Cavan Fairall.
Thailand's delegation was led by His Excellency Mr Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The Kingdom of Thailand is represented by Professor Alain Pellet, Sir Michael Wood KC, Professor Alina Miron and others.
The next meeting of the Conciliation Commission will be at the Peace Palace in The Hague from 14 to 18 October 2026. Further meetings are scheduled to take place in Europe and Asia.
The Commission's Press Releases and a video of the Opening Session can be found here.